Community raffle: Otsego man drives home his new Larson Boat

Posted on: May 28th, 2014 by brainerdchamber

The Brainerd Lakes Chamber completed the prize giveaway Tuesday as part of its Brainerd Lakes Chamber Community Raffle, proceeds from which were used to host the 2014 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener in the Brainerd Lakes Area, May 8-11, 2014.

The raffle prize, fully donated by Larson Boats, a Minnesota boat manufacturer based in Little Falls, Minn., was awarded to Levi Fry, Otsego, Minn., who purchased his winning ticket last July while enjoying a fireworks display at Grand View Lodge in Nisswa. His winning ticket was drawn Saturday night, May 10, at the conclusion of the 2014 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener celebration dinner.

A record number of raffle tickets – 10,055 – were sold in support of the annual governor’s fishing opener. Host communities typically conduct a raffle and sell sponsorships to raise funds for the event.

Steve Mau, Brainerd General Rental, and Frank Soukup, Grand View Lodge, the co-chairs of the 2014 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener, thanked the dedicated volunteers, including Dr. David Anderholm, Northern Psychiatric Associates, who chaired the raffle committee, for their tireless efforts this past year.

They also thanked C&C Boat Works, Crosslake, for helping award the boat as well as recognized Larson Boats for the donation.

“This is a gratifying day for our Brainerd Lakes Area,” Mau said Tuesday. “We celebrate the end of a successful fundraising campaign and witness the beginning for an excited Minnesota boat owner, who already has plans for a summer of fishing and boating.”

Fry, who first thought he was punked when told he won the boat, said he is still full of surprise and disbelief. “I’m grateful, would be the easiest answer,” he said of winning the boat. Fry, a hunting and fishing enthusiast, said he looks forward to days on the water this summer. “That’s the plan.”

About 2014 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener
The 2014 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener was hosted by Gov. Mark Dayton and Brainerd Lakes Chamber, with Grand View Lodge as headquarters for the event, and in collaboration with the Nisswa Chamber of Commerce. The event was coordinated by Explore Minnesota Tourism, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The 67th annual Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener was an opportunity to spotlight fishing and the many recreational and travel opportunities in the Brainerd Lakes Area. More information can be found at www.mngovernorsopener.com, or via social media, using #GFO2014.

Cutline: Levi Fry (center), Otsego, Minn., the winner of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber Community Raffle – a 2014 Larson Boat prize package – posed Tuesday with Frank Soukup, Grand View Lodge; Brad Nelson, C&C Boat Works, a Larson Boats dealer; Dr. David Anderholm, Northern Psychiatric Associates; and Steve Mau, Brainerd General Rental, before he hitched the boat on his truck and drove it home. Soukup and Mau were the co-chairs of the 2014 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener while Anderholm was the chair of the raffle committee.